Hollywood's Best-Paid Actors

[Elano]

By Forbes

Collectively, the big screen's leading men took home an estimated $487 million this year, compared with the leading ladies' haul of $244.5 million.

Will Smith leads the pack of Hollywood's best-paid actors, banking an estimated $80 million over the course of the year. Frequently called the hardest-working man in Hollywood, Smith has proved that no matter the genre -- be it sci-fi thriller ("I Am Legend") or sappy drama ("The Pursuit of Happyness") -- he can deliver an audience.

The former "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" star also set a theatrical record this year. Thanks to the commercial success of this summer's anti-superhero flick "Hancock," Smith is the first actor in Hollywood history to have eight straight movies eclipse $100 million at the box office.

Coming in second on the list is "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp, an actor who is known to vacillate between commercial work and artier fare. He still managed to pull down $72 million this year.

In this case, the bold-faced star followed up his three turns as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney's $2.76 billion "Pirates" franchise with the Stephen Sondheim serial-killer musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Flat Street." Though the latter hardly set box office records, it did earn Depp an Oscar nomination.

With $55 million, Eddie Murphy comes in third among Tinseltown's top earners, thanks to a slew of family-friendly hits. The long-reigning master of disguise continues to prove his range on- screen, playing notable roles in everything from animated flicks ("Shrek") to goofball comedies ("Norbit") to musical remakes ("Dreamgirls"). The latter earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Then there's "Austin Powers" star Mike Myers, who is tied for third on this list with earnings of $55 million, due in large part to the success of the hit animated franchise "Shrek."

But when it comes to live-action fare, the comedy chameleon's ride has been far less smooth in recent years. Despite a stellar cast (including Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba) and plenty of promotion, Myers' summer comedy "The Love Guru" failed to deliver at the box office. To date, the Paramount flick has generated only $31.8 million domestically.

"Titanic's" Leonardo DiCaprio rounds out the top five, raking in $45 million during the year. He's the unique movie star who can get $20 million for work in R-rated adult dramas, which, because of viewer age restrictions, have limited ability to generate big box office numbers.

Though his flicks are rarely blockbusters, DiCaprio's work can create a sizable amount of Academy Award season buzz. In fact, three of his last five flicks -- "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," and "The Departed" -- were nominated for Best Picture. The latter took home the Oscar.

[Don Jacob]

^about dicapprio....that oscar buzz is in large part due to Martin Scorcese

[The King]

Seems like the best paid actors are also the worst actors.

[Don Jacob]

depp> your favorite actor unless they're named Deniro/nicholson.

[Javier]

DiCaprio is a top 5 actor working today

[Sikotic™]

Depp and DiCaprio are solid actors. Will Smith........he's got talent, but reduced himself to bland movies in order to draw a wide range of people to see his movies. It works for him.

Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are only there because of Shrek. Otherwise, they have no bidness on there.

[Fuck Your Existence]

Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are only there because of Shrek. Otherwise, they have no bidness on there.

truth...can someone tell me the last eddie murphy movie that didnt suck?

[Don Jacob]

ummmmmmmmmmm nutty professor II

[Javier]

Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are only there because of Shrek. Otherwise, they have no bidness on there.

truth...can someone tell me the last eddie murphy movie that didnt suck?

He did some good acting for Dreamgirls.  But seriously, Eddie Murphy does some shitty ass movies.  He's a wasted talent. 

[Sikotic™]

If Eddie Murphy plays one more movie in prosthetics, I will put a hit out on him.

[GENERIK]

heath ledger would be making major scrilla if he was still alive

[3rd Coast]

Depp and DiCaprio are solid actors. Will Smith........he's got talent, but reduced himself to bland movies in order to draw a wide range of people to see his movies. It works for him.

Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are only there because of Shrek. Otherwise, they have no bidness on there.

will still countin money from his gay role in Six Degrees of Separation.... he had to get broke off some major bread to do that...a rapper too..

[Don Jacob]

i think he already was making major scrilla